Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-18
What Senator Plumb says.
THE SCHOOL BOARD REPORT A TISSUE OF MIsRRrRD-
SENrATIONH.

ago the House put In q clause providing
for longevity pay and we cut It out saying 1t was
best to let increase OF pay depend on merit rather
scs aS UI
struck it out, proceeded to apply the principle.
did mo, not say word about abolishing
snst more money Su' pe devoted SS
the employment OF low grade teachers. Superin-
tendent Powell, In all his talks with us, never
wanted money for salaries and for high salaries.
When we sugg ested that more money be used in
the the employment en Of teachers at three, four
teach the little children, Mr. Powell
replied that that was not what was wanted. He
was somewhat peculiar, indicating that there is d
good deal OF an artstOcracy here, and that IL was
necessary TO provide high grade schools with high
salaried teachers We could never prevail upon
Mr. Powell to talk on that branch OF the subject.
"The citizens committee called upon US and
stated that additional school room was needed;
could not attend school because there were NOT
| facilities for them. We replied that we
| had been SO informed l don't know
not personally acquainted with him, but mem.
berS OF the citizens committee advised US VI the
need OF additional room Some time agowe required
| schedule OF teachers salaries and appropriated
| by that. The school authorities devoted the ap
preparation TO paying high salaries and as IL diC
not hold out for their purposes Iaey took three PEI
low salaries as well as the high. The sub-cOmmit
tee have never said word looking to the abolition
| OF any branch OF the schools On the contrary Oui
desire Is to build them up and In this very BIZ
before us We had provided for school rooms for
seven or eight thousand pupils In addition to those
propriate all the money required for school pur-
poses and the authorities know IT."
SENATOR C0CKRELL ENDORSES hR. PLUMB.
Senator Cockrell, the third member OF the sub
committee, endorsed all that Mr.. Plumb had said.
He said the report and comments at the school
board meeting last night were misrepresentation
throughout.
COMMITTEE SAYS
Dr. Robert Reyburn, the chairman OF the citi-
zens' committee whose bill for an enlarged school
board has passed the House and is now pending In
the Senate, said to-day to a STAR reporter: 81
fers fo senator Plum am snr thet noa
ing OF the sort emanated from our committee Our
objecti to build up the schools not to pull them
schools sould be under the management OF the
citizens We object to the Capitalization OF
power by the District Commissioners, which
makes the school board merely advisory. Our
committee asked that the administration OF the
schools be placed In the hands OF the citizens the
Commissioners discussing the money, etc. We
all know that the school accommodations are in
sufficient, owing to the lack OF school buildings,
but the committee never represented that the
lower grade scholars were crowded out by the
higher grades Where senator Plumb obtained
his information don't know, but do know that
the citizens committee never made such state.
ments. Sympathize with the board In their
efforts to secure the appropriation needed for
the schools"
NIB. ". c. DODGEs OPINION.
sPerhaps senator Plumb got his idea" said Mr.
w. C. Dodge this morning to STAR reporter,
shat the lower grades In the public schools were
sighted In the interest OF the higher grades from
the memorial presented by the citizens OF East
washington asking for improved school facilities.
II so, the memorial was miScOnStrued II Is true
that We pointed out that the report OF the school
trustees stated that four nrths OF the pupils en-
rolled are In the first four grades and that owing
to the lack OF room the pupils belonging TO the st
two grades could attend school but hall day. We
then said that II all the money needed Tor school
buildings was not TO be made available at present,
then that the money that was appropriated should
be used first in providing buildings Tor the lower
grades rather than the higher grades, We referred
TO the fact that the District Commissioners In
their estimates asked for 500 600 for the erection
OF school buildings, and OF this amount $40 600
was to be used In erecting an addition TO the High
school building and S2840O for col0red High
school adjoining the sumner building. We ad-
vsed that the buildings needed for the lower grades
be erected first. The position was not taken that
the higher grades did not need these additional
school facilities but that II the needs OF the Dis
trict in this respect were only TO be partially sat
fS1ied, that the majority OF the school population
should receive attention nrSt. / think that the
additionsl money asked for BY the trustees Tor
teachers salaries ought to be granted. and am In
favor OF It heartily"